News
Underwater relay challenge in memory of BSAC diver raises £1,700
UK Divers from Ribble Valley SAC have raised money in memory of one of their club members by swimming more than five miles beneath the surface of Coniston Water in Cumbria.
After months of training, 16 members of the club spent eight hours covering the entire length of the lake underwater to remember Duncan Priestley, of Accrington, who passed away, aged just 59, in August 2013 from cancer.
Eight buddy pairs of divers from across Lancashire used a relay system to travel the five and a half mile Lake District site last Sunday (July 13) with the aim of hauling in at least £1,000 for lifeboat charity the RNLI.
But, according to the club’s Training Officer Fiona Imlach, who was part of the challenge team, things went so well that they’re hoping to end up with double that amount.
Fiona, 50, said: “Before we even started about £1,200 had been donated online, we had £500 in sponsorship pledges and we made another £200 on the day from our members making a collection around people watching us from the shore, sitting in local cafes and walking around Coniston village.
“Things went very smoothly with the challenge. The first divers went in at 6am and the last one came out at 2pm, which was much less time than we thought it was going to take. We started from the end of the lake furthest away from Coniston and gradually worked our way northwards towards the village.”
Each member of the team did two 30-minute dives at 5 ½ metres with a break of four hours in between.
“Each buddy pair used a compass and trailed a surface marker buoy so the safety crew on the surface could see exactly where they were. We had two RIBS with the second one ferrying the next pair of divers with 15 people in them.
“Visibility wasn’t too bad in the water and the buddy pairs could see one another quite clearly. For Coniston, which can be very cold, the water was surprisingly warm. It was 17C while the air temperature was just over 20C.”
Fiona added: “We attracted quite a lot of attention from people around the lake and the great thing was that Duncan’s widow Joan and their grandson Joseph, who is 11, were both there to watch the challenge.
“They thought that what we were doing in Duncan’s name was amazing and I think they were overwhelmed by the effort we put into it.
“From our point of view it was certainly a fantastic day and a great club activity. I’m proud of the way all the members helped each other.”
Last year the club raised more than £2,200 for Pendleside Hospice in Duncan’s memory after taking on what Fiona describes as a few silly underwater challenges.
She explained: “Duncan Priestley was one of the club’s most active members and was a hugely popular guy who was always up for a laugh. That’s why, last year, we decided to do ‘silly’ things underwater to raise money for Pendleside Hospice where he spent his last days.
“The hospice was fantastic and even arranged for him to marry his partner, Joan, which was very kind of them. Duncan was born in Rawtensall and lived in both Nelson and Accrington. He had two children from his first marriage but had a long term relationship with Joan who he met at Accrington and Rossendale College where they both worked.
“Last year we did all sorts of sponsored silly things such as holding an underwater gym session, played underwater draughts, one diver wrote 100 lines, one ate as many different fruits as possible and one munched his way through a pile of sausages!
“We are thrilled with the amount of money we have raised so far and we’ve decided, as a club, to continue fundraising and make it an annual event in Duncan’s memory with a different charity benefiting each year.”
For more information on Ribble Valley Sub Aqua Club, click here.
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Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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